Mitsubishi Repair: 93 Diamante, alternator belt, repair manuals

Question
My alternator went on my 1993 Diamante and the repair shop said that in order to repair it there will be a few hundred dollars in labor because of access to the alternator. He claims he needs to dismantle a portion of the engine block and part of some other stuff. Basically access is very hard. Does this make any sense?


Answer
Joshua: First off you need to go out and buy yourself a repair manual for your car. You can get it at any parts store for around $20.00. With that read up on how the alternator is replaced. You could also find the drive belt, well belts. One is the belt that gets its power from the engine, but then you have a waterpump belt and a power steering belt too, the alternator belt runs with the waterpump belt. You could then see what kind of a job it will be to replace the alternator. Now to replace the waterpump you have to take the engine apart to get at that waterpump. But I don't think so for your alternator. But with that repair manual you would be able to see what it really takes. I have a son that is very smart with computers but not with cars. And shops are forever telling him stories on how things will be fixed and the large cost. But now he has books on his cars, repair manuals and he know from reading the book what it will take. And he does not put up with that. If you can not buy a repair manual then go to the library they have books, might not be able to check them out, but you could read up on it and make copies then. If this guy that is working on your car, thinks you know nothing about the work. He could be and I believe he trying to take you for a ride on this work as well as cost. But I do, do most of my work on Mitsubish Eclipse but still, get that manual. I get so tired of these shops taking people for more money and parts. When it really did not take all that they are charging for. So get that manual read up on your car and then you will know for sure what he is doing. Then if he comes up with something else he says you got to have, you will know. You will know and you will tell him to forget it. Because you know it does not take that to change a alternator. Hope this helps and good luck!